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/speech/=Na'vi
/He doesn't 'walk' as anything at the moment,/ Tsu'tey responded without thinking, and then immediately regretted the words. As irritated as he was at the moment—with Sky People in general, with his people turning to Jake for a solution that didn't even require his consent, with the images of fire that wouldn't stay out of his head—that had been a decidedly unkind and more than slightly childish thing to say. He shook his head quickly when Patak gave him a questioning look. /Apologies. Yes, he is in a Sky Person body now. His…./ He paused, frowning, as he found himself faced with the difficulty that Norm sometimes had when speaking to him. There were simply not terms in Na'vi for some of their concepts. He shook his head slightly and settled for a very simplified explanation. /The means by which he moves his soul to his Dreamwalker body was damaged in the fight, and there have been too many things of higher importance to do than repair it./
Patak frowned. /How can he be one of us if he is still a Sky Person sometimes?/
An argument that Tsu'tey had tried to use with Eytukan when Neytiri had first begun to train Jake—and then later as it became more and more clear that Jake was capable of becoming Omaticaya—and if Eytukan had never agreed with him, he'd also never come up with what Tsu'tey had considered a good answer. Tsu'tey didn't have one either, even if he was now willing to accept Jake, so he settled for a shrug. /Mo'at believes that he can be brought fully into his Dreamwalker body and there will no longer be need for Sky People intervention or a Sky Person body, but there have been other priorities at the new Hometree as well./
/Of course. I had simply hoped…./ He shook his head slightly. /It would be convenient if the challenge were to occur before I have to return to my own clan so I will not have to make the journey twice. If it is not possible, it is not possible, but since Mo'at and I will be two of the three judges, that will required only one to travel./
/I understand./ And he did, even if he didn't like it. Even if they hadn't been attacked in the same manner as the Omaticaya, all of the nearby clans who had sent warriors to face the Sky People were dealing with the aftermath of the battle as well and would be for some time, and they could not reasonably be expected to spare their Olo'eyktan's for any great span. From Pakat's perspective, it would be much simpler if the challenge was held before he left for his home with the rest of his clan. Unfortunately, from Tsu'tey's perspective…well, for one, he still didn't want to face his friend, and for another, when Jake was transferred back to his body, it would be whole. Tsu'tey had no idea exactly how long it would be until his leg was fully healed, but if the challenge was held before that point, it would start him at a disadvantage at the very least. But he nodded anyway. /I will speak to Jake—Toruk Makto—at the next opportunity./
They exchanged pleasantries for several minutes—Tsu'tey had met Patak's son and knew he'd come through the battle intact, which made him a safe subject of conversation—and then there was a light knock at the door and Norm stepped in with a tray of food in his hands.
/Greetings, Olo'eyktan…s./ He paused, looking uncertain. /I See you. I apologize for interrupting./
/I See you. It is fine,/ Tsu'tey said, before Patak could say anything. Given the absolutely disgusted expression that had crossed Patak's face, he didn't think that he recognized Norm in his Sky Person body. Which was understandable enough—Tsu'tey hadn't even recognized Jake, after all—but it was not an insult that he would see given to one who had fought for them. /Patak, I believe you have met Norm, although he was considerably taller at the time. He fought alongside your clan./
Patak's eyes narrowed, and then he sprang at Norm, and Tsu'tey winced as Norm yelped and froze in place. Freezing was a better reaction than fleeing, Tsu'tey supposed, but it was still not the action of a warrior. But then again, Norm wasn't a warrior, so….
/You fought?/ Patak demanded, glaring down at him, disbelief clear in his voice.
/Yes./ His voice didn't waver, and he managed to meet Patak's eyes, although he looked a little more pale than usual to Tsu'tey's eyes as the warrior loomed over him.
/Why are you not in your Dreamwalker body then?/
Conveniently ignoring the fact that it was clearly easier for the Sky People to use their Sky Person bodies here, but Norm just shrugged. /My Avatar was killed in the battle. This is the only body I have now./
Patak stared at him for a minute longer and then backed off slightly. To Norm's obvious relief.
/What did you need?/ Tsu'tey asked, before Patak could say anything else. He didn't think—once Patak's questioning of Norm's identity had concluded, anyway—that Patak would press him further, but there was no need to test that theory. And Norm still looked pale.
/I just came to drop off lunch./ He indicated the tray awkwardly. /I mean, if you're hungry./
It was a little embarrassing to be seen having food delivered to him like an invalid, even if he technically was one at the moment, and Tsu'tey made a dismissive gesture. /I do not need food now, but could you find Jake and let him know that I need to speak to him when he has a moment?/
/Of course./ Norm bowed slightly to Patak and then stepped back towards the door.
"It would be good if he could manage a proper greeting," Tsu'tey added in English, on the off chance that Patak was still here when Jake came. He was accustomed to Jake's informal manner, but Patak was not, and given Patak's first reaction to seeing Norm….
"Of course," Norm repeated, and then turned towards the door. "I'll just convince him and Neytiri to quit staring longingly into each other's eyes for more than thirty seconds at a stretch. I swear the two of them make me want to carry around a bucket of ice water."
"What?"
Norm glanced over his shoulder, eyes widening slightly. Apparently he hadn't expected Tsu'tey to overhear his mutters. "Just…never mind. I'll send him down as soon as I find him."
Patak was still staring after Norm as the door swung shut behind him, but his next comment was solely for Tsu'tey. /You speak their language well./ There was disapproval in his tone, and Tsu'tey did his best to keep his voice casual.
/Eytukan insisted that all of the warriors learn at least the basics of the language, in the interests of not relying on the Sky People interpreters./ He had simply had more aptitude than most, even if he hadn't particularly enjoyed learning. /And here, it is necessary. Most of the scientists speak well, but Jake—Toruk Makto—does not./
Patak frowned as he turned back to face Tsu'tey. /He seemed to do well enough before the battle./
That was mostly because Neytiri and probably Norm had translated everything he wanted to say for him before he'd actually had to speak, Tsu'tey suspected, or at the very least they'd checked his words before he used them. For things that hadn't been translated in advance—like precise tactics—Tsu'tey had interpreted. Jake had been polite about it, though, and there had been enough worry for the clan that Tsu'tey hadn't had time to be irritated with him. Well, that and he'd been willing to give Toruk Makto a little more leeway than he would have given most. He settled for a slight shrug. /He is better than he was./
Patak grimaced. /It does not…bother you…being around so many of them?/
/Around Sky People?/ Tsu'tey shrugged again at the disbelief in Patak's voice. /It is certainly not ideal, but there are not so many that I deal with, and most of those are Dreamwalkers. Marginally better than normal Sky People. And they all have enough other things to do that they don't bother me for very long at a stretch. Most of the time it's just Jake and Norm who visit regularly./ Well, them and the healers, but...
/And you were speaking the truth when you said that that Norm was the one that fought alongside my warriors? He did not behave as a warrior./
Tsu'tey didn't bother to confirm that Norm had fought; it was not something that he would say falsely and Patak should know that. /He isn't a warrior. In either body. He isn't even a hunter, although I did not know that until recently. But he did what was necessary. And he did not do so poorly, as I understand it, all things considered./
Patak seemed to accept that—albeit reluctantly—but before either of them could say anything more, the door swung open again and Jake wheeled in. His greeting was accented—heavily so—but at least the words were recognizable enough.
/Jake, you will remember Patak,/ Tsu'tey said, before either of them could say anything.
If Jake didn't—which was entirely possible given how hectic things had become before the battle with warriors from many clans all arriving at once—he very sensibly made no sign of it and managed an appropriately respectful if slightly awkward statement about being honored to see him again.
/Patak, Toruk Makto,/ Tsu'tey finished.
That got a sharp look, focus replacing the poorly-hidden disgust that had once again returned to Patak's face, and Tsu'tey wasn't overly surprised that he repeated his false-attack. And unlike Norm, Jake didn't even twitch as he met Patak's eyes with an even stare. It was possible that Norm had warned him, Tsu'tey supposed, but Jake was a warrior and Tsu'tey doubted that he'd have responded anyway.
/Mo'at asked me tell you she and Neytiri and one healer return Hometree soon,/ Jake said, when Patak showed no sign of backing off. /You go with or can stay when other healer and children and family go back later./
/Until the other healer and the families take the children back later,/ Tsu'tey corrected after he'd sorted out the other words. It made sense, of course, that Patak would have ridden in with one of them; most members of Horse Clan, Patak included, did not fly ikran, and riding a pa'li that distance would be far too time-consuming.
Patak stared at Jake for a minute longer and then moved past him with a shake of his head. /I go now. You decide when./
That was directed at Tsu'tey and was sharper than strictly polite, but he nodded slightly anyway. /Of course./
/You know way out?/ Jake asked.
/Yes./
Jake managed a slight bow of farewell, and after giving him another odd look, Patak stepped into the hallway.
"It would be rude to follow him and make sure he gets out, wouldn't it?" Jake asked as the door swung shut.
"Extremely."
"Damn. Guess I'll just hope he doesn't get lost then." Jake said with a shake of his head. "From what Neytiri said, he's already upset enough about being here; getting stuck in the halls would make it an even worse mess. Uh, he is the leader of Horse Clan, right?"
"Yes."
"Good. I thought that was right, but Mo'at only gave me his name so I wasn't totally sure." He frowned and then looked around. "Oh, sorry, I thought Norm was going to bring you lunch or I'd have grabbed a tray on my way down."
"You did not see him? Norm?"
Jake shook his head. "No, Mo'at just sent me down to deliver her message. Should I have?"
"He did bring a tray—I'm just not hungry at the moment—but I had asked him to tell you that I wanted to speak to you."
"Ah." He frowned. "About what? Did you guys come up with any better message to send?"
"No." Tsu'tey grimaced. "It seems we must go with your suggestion. As little as I like it." He nearly spit the last, and Jake shrugged.
"Hey, don't put that on me; I told you, I don't like it either. Blame Max and Carla."
"What?"
"It wasn't my idea; it was Max and Carla's." He shrugged again. "My suggestion involved way more explosives and got me yelled at by pretty much everyone." He paused. "I kind of wish you were conscious for it, actually—it still wouldn't have worked, but you, at least, would have liked it. And then they would have had someone else to yell at." Another pause. "I'm really not sure what they expected out of me, to tell you the truth. I mean, there's a reason I joined the Marine Corps and not the Peace Corps."
Tsu'tey stared at him for a minute and then echoed his shrug. In truth, he felt…a little better, actually, knowing that. That the idea to protect Pandora hadn't been Jake's. Maybe he would not be superfluous as a leader. Except that there was still a challenge to face, and—
"If it wasn't that, then what did you want to talk to me about?" Jake asked.
/When is the challenge?/
"What?"
Tsu'tey scowled. He'd intended to speak English, but the words had slipped out in Na'vi—probably another indication that he needed more sleep—and— He shook his head. It shouldn't matter. How did Jake expect to lead anything if he didn't even speak the language? But he had told Patak that he would speak to Jake, so…. "When is the challenge?" he repeated.
"No, I understood the question," Jake said. "I might not be able to pronounce a damn thing, but I actually do have a pretty decent vocabulary. I just don't know what challenge you're talking about."
"The leadership challenge," Tsu'tey said slowly. "When is it?"
"A week from Tuesday? How the hell would I know?" His expression hardened abruptly. "Wait, someone's challenging you? No offense, Tsu'tey, but that's crap. You aren't in any shape for a fight."
"Neither are you."
"Yeah, well, I'm not planning on fighting anyone."
Tsu'tey glared. Why was Jake being dense about this?
"—not fight—"
"—tradition isn't someth—"
"—ing you or anyone because—"
"—ing that is decided on a—"
"—someone says I have to! That's—"
"—whim! And why you think—"
"—the stupidest—"
"—you have any right to—"
"—thing I've ever heard! And—"
"—tell the People that you have any—"
"—why the hell you think I—"
"—idea how—"
A sharp, shrill noise interrupted Tsu'tey—and Jake, who was somehow very nearly managing to match the volume of his shouts even in a smaller body—and Tsu'tey twisted to snarl at the intruder.
Unfortunately, while Patak might have managed to intimidate Norm, Tsu'tey clearly no longer did, because he just glared at the two of them. "What the hell? I was coming to tell you that I couldn't find Jake, but I could hear the two of you from all the way down the corridor!"
"It's—" Tsu'tey began.
"He—" Jake interrupted.